Subcaliber conversion assembly for revolvers



March 28, 1961 J. G. OWENS SUBCALIBER` CONVERSION ASSEMBLY FOR REVOLVERSFiled June l5, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 @HSW 0MM .Summum www @w INVENTOR:

gzohn 6.0;96225, BY MMM] 0a/1,9 v' Maan.

ATTORNEYS.

March 28, 1961 .1. G. OWENS 2,976,638

` SUBCALIBER CONVERSION ASSEMBLY FOR REvoLvERs Filed June 13, 1958 2Sheets-Sheet 2 SUBCALIBER CONVERSON ASSEMBLY FOR REVOLVERS John G.Uwens, 540 N. Louisa, Shawnee, kla.

Filed June 13, 1958, Ser. No. 741,801

11 Claims. (Cl. 42-77) This invention relates to revolvers, and, moreparticularly, to an assembly or kit for converting a revolver of alarger caliber to use sub-caliber ammunition, such as the smaller andmore economical .22 caliber cartridges.

Although such conversion kits are known, they have thusfar possessednumerous disadvantages. For example, certain types of such kits arerelatively complicated and, consequently, expensive. Other types of suchkits render the converted revolver usable as a single shot weapon only,i.e., the kit dispenses with the usual magazine. In other types of suchkits the conversion cannot be made with any degree of facility, and,once converted, it is relatively diiicult, if not impossible, torecouvert the revolver to use ammunition for which it Was originallydesigned.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a conversionkit of the type under consideration which can be applied to a revolverwith ease and, after application, the revolver can be reconvertedquickly and Without the use of any tools, to use the ammunition forwhich it originally was designed. Additionally, it is an object of thisinvention to provide such a kit that, after it has once been applied toa revolver, the revolver can quickly and easily be converted to usesub-caliber, or its usual caliber, ammunition without the use of anytools.

It is another object of this invention to provide a conversion kit ofthe type under consideration wherein the revolver to which the kit isapplied is not altered mechanically in any way, so that any originalparts, which were removed and replaced by conversion kit parts, can bereplaced.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a conversion kitof the type under consideration which embodies a minimum of parts andwhich is designed to replace a minimum of parts on the revolver.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a conversion kitof the type under consideration that embodies a sub-caliber barrelinsertable in the usual barrel of the revolver to be converted, andwherein the subcaliber barrel, when inserted in the original barrel,does not contact the riliing of the latter.

It is another object of this invention to provide a conversion kit ofthe type under consideration which employs a sub-caliber cylinder sothat the converted revolver will have a magazine.

It is a further obiect of this invention to provide a conversion kit ofthe type under consideration wherein the revolver, once the kitisapplied thereto, can be used with either its original calibercenter-tire ammunition or subcaliber rim-fire ammunition, by a simpleselective manipulation of the firing mechanism without any mechanicalalteration thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description and accompanying drawings in which: i

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in vertical section, of arevolver of the single-action solid frame ejector-rod type having aconversion assembly embodying this invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a portion of Figure1.

Figure 3 is a rear view of the sub-caliber cylinder shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 4 4 ofFigure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical, sectional view of a portion ofFigure 1.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Figure5.

Figure 7Yisran enlarged vertical sectional view of the replacementtiring pin assembly shown in Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the firing pin assembly shown in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a bottom view of the tiring pin assembly shown in Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional View of the recoil plate shown inFigure 2.

Figure 11 is a front View of the recoil plate shown in Figure 2.

Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view of the revolver shown inFigure' 1.

Figure 13 is a view of the larger caliber cylinder of the revolver shownin Figure l, which cylinder was replaced in the latter figure by certainparts of the conversion kit embodying this invention.

Referring now-to the drawings there is shown a revolver of thesingle-action, solid frame, ejector-rod type having the usual barrel 20adapted for use with larger caliber center-tire cartridges. Coaxiarlydisposed within the barrel 20 is a sub-caliber tube or barrel 22 ofslightly smaller diameter than the interior of the barrel 20. Thesub-caliber barrel 22 has an exteriorly threaded rear end 24 thatprojects out of the rear end of the barrel 20 and is engaged within athreaded opening 26 in a barrel support 28. The barrel support 2S,together with a subcaliber cylinder 30, as shown in Figure 1,substantially fill the space normally occupied by the larger caliberusual cylinder 32 (Figure 13) of the revolver. The subcaliber cylinder3) has chambers 34 to receive sub-caliber ammunition (not shown), suchas .22 caliber rim-fire ammunition, and is provided with bothconventional register stops 36 spaced about its periphery, to align thecylinder chambers 34 with the sub-caliber barrel 22, and a conventionalratchet 3S (Figures 3 and 4) engageable by the usual pawl 40 (Figure 12)of the cylinder-revolving mechanism of the revolver. Both the barrelsupport 28 and the sub-caliber cylinder 30 are mounted on the usualcylinder pin or spindle 42 of the revolver having the usual bushing 44.

Preferably, the barrel support 28 is cylindrical and of the samediameter as the sub-caliber cylinder 30, and both are provided withalignable thumbing recesses 46 to preserve, as nearly as possible, theoriginal appearance of the revolver. To this same end the support 28 isi provided with chamber-like holes 48 alignable with the chambers 34 inthe cylinder 30, and through one of which holes the usual ejector-rod(not shown), which is mounted in the usual tubular housing 49 on therevolver, passes to project into the chambers 34 in succession to ejectcartridge cases therefrom. It will be noted, however, that the rear ofthe barrel support 28 may be cut away or hollowed out, as at 50, toreduce its weight, as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

As shown in Figure 1, the muzzle end of the subcaliber barrel 22 isprovided with a circumferential ange or enlargement 52 having a concaverear face 54 designed to contact the muzzle 56 of the usual barrel 20only at the outer edges thereof. Consequently, the coniiguration of therear face 54 of the enlargement 52 Patented Mar. 2S, 1961 antenas fserves not only to center the sub-caliber barrel 22 in the barrel 20 ofthe revolver but 'also to maintain the sub-caliber barrel out ofengagement with the rifling in the barrel Ztl. In this connection, itwillbe noted that the barrel support 28 is designedto serve the samefunction adjacent the rear end of the barrel 20, as'will be seen inFigure 5. Y Y

. Theconversion kit also includes a recoil plate S dea one of its twopositions. Additionally, it will be seen that the provision of therecoil plate 58 minimizes swel-ling of the cartridge case of either acenter-fire or a rimlire cartridge on the tiring thereof, which swellingmight signed to take the place of the usual recoil plate (not Y shown)of the revolver which usually has a press lit in an opening 6l) in theframe 62 tof the revolver in alignment with the Vbarrel 20, as shown inFigures 2 and l2. Such usual recoil plate has only a central openingtherein through W-hich the usual ring pin (not shown) ofthe revolverprojects to impactproperly upon a larger caliber central fire cartridge(not'shown). The recoil plate 5S, however, hastwo tiring` pin uopenings,a central opening 64 for center-lire'cartridges and spaced therebelow alower opening 66 for rim-lire cartridges in the sub-caliber cylinder 30,as best shown in Figure 2. Y

The conversion kit also includes a ring pin assembly 68 comprising agenerallyy cylindrical supporting member 70 adapted to be mounted in acorresponding recess 7,2 in the hammer 74, and retained in position by apin 76 (Figures 2 and 12) extending transversely through the hammerinengagement within a transverse groove 78 (Figures 7 and 9) in theunder side of the member 70. At its forward end, the member 7i? isprovided with a vertical slot 80 within which is mounted, on atransverse pivot pin 82 (Figure 7) the attened rear end of a iiring pin84. The pin 84 is movable, on its pivot pin 82, betweenv an 'upper and alower position, as best shown in Figure 7, which positions correspond,respectively, withthe central and lower-openings 64 and 66 in the recoilplate 58. From an inspection of Figure 7 it will be noted that when thefiring pin 84 is in its lower position, the rear end of such pin engageswith a surface at the bottom of the slot k80 to prevent further loweringmovement of the pin. Likewise, when the pin 84 is in its upper position,shown in dotted lines in Figure 7, the rear end of the pin substantiallyengages with another surface at the bottom of the slot 86 to preventfurther upward movement of the ring pin. The upper rear end of thetiring pin 84 is of generally right-angled configuration, as bt shown inFigure 7, for cooperation with a spring detent S6. The detent 86 is inthe form of a generally straight spring wire, secured at its rear end ina longitudinal' groove in the top of the member 70. When the iiring pin84 is in its upper or center firing position, the forward end of thespring 36 overlies the top of the rear end of the firing pin in order toyieldingly restrain movement of Vthe pin out of such position, as shownin dotted lines in Figure 7. Likewise, when thering pin 84 is in itslower or rimring position, the forward end of the spring 86 engagesagainst the rear end of the ring pin to yieldingly restrain movement ofthe pin out of such position, as shown in Figure 7.

. Fre-rn the foregoing, it will be seen that the only mechanicalalteration of the revolver occasioned by the application of a kitembodying this invention thereto resides in the replacement of theoriginal iirin.CY pin of the revolver by the firing pin assembly 68embodying this invention. Such assembly 68, however, renders therevolver usable with the center-lire larger caliber ammunition for whichit was originally designed, and also with sub-caliber rim-lireammunition when converted for use therewith by the kit embodying thisinvention. It will be seen that selective adaptation for rimorcenter-lire operation can readily be made by flipping the tiring pin 84Vbetween its two positions by hand. Likewise, it will be seen that theprovision of a recoil plate 58 having two tiring pin openings 64 and 66therein provides a positive guide for the tiring pin 84 in either of itsVtwo positions. Consequently, the ring'pin 84 will not tire unless it isin interfere with the proper rotation of either the usual larger calibercylinder 32 or the sub-caliber cylinder 30. p

Once the tiring pin assembly 68 and the recoil plate 5S embodying thisinvention have replaced the usual ring pin (not shown) and recoil plate(not shown) of the revolver, ythe latter can 'be converted'for use witheither sub-caliber rim-fire cartridges or larger caliber centerfirecartridges with great ease and facility. In order to convert therevolverfor use with the larger caliber arnmunition, it is only necessary tounscrew the sub-caliber barrel Z2, which usually can be accomplished byhand but lfor which purpose the enlargement S2 is provided with a radialaperture 88 for engagement by va Spanner Wrench (not shown). Thereafter,the cylinder spindle 42 can be pulled out, afterV being unlocked by itsconventional sliding transverse locking pin 90, the conventionalcylinder lock 92 swungout, and the sub-caliber cylinder Si? and barrelsupport 28 removed together with the bushing '44. The bushing 24 canthen be inserted into the usual larger caliber cylinder 32, and bothreplaced in their usual position in the revolver and supported thereinby the cylinder spindle 42. The firing pin S4 is then moved from itslower to its upper position. Thereupon, the revolver is ready` for usewith its standard larger caliber ammunition. lt is only necessary toreverse the foregoing steps to again convert the revolver for use withsub-caliber ammunition.

It thus will be seen that the objects of this invention have been i'ullyand effectively accomplished. lt -will be realized, however, that theforegoing specic embodiment has been shown and described only for thepurpose of illustrating the principles of this invention and is subjectto extensive change without departure from such principles. For example,kits embodying this invention are likewise applicable to double-actionrevolvers or to revolvers of the solid frame swing-out-cylinder type.For this latter purpose, it obviously would be necessary to provide asub-caliber ejector designed to cooperate with the subcaliber cylinder,and also to modify the barrel support so that it will not be engaged bythe cylinder spindle of such a revolver. Additionally, it will be seenthat the invention also is applicable to a break-open type of revolver,it being only necessary to provide an appropriate sub-caliber ejectorfor cooperation with the sub-caliber cylinder in order to make suchapplication. Therefore, this invention includes all'modiiicationsVencompassed within the spirit and scope of the yfollowing claims:

I claim:

`l.V An assembly for converting a revolver to use subcaliber ammunitioncomprising: a sub-caliber cylinder having a barrel support at itsdischarge end, said cylinder and support being adapted to replace thelarger caliber cylinder of the revolver, said sub-caliber cylinder andsaid support having aligned central apertures adapted to snugly receivethe cylinder spindle of the revolver, and said support having Vathreaded opening with which the chambers in said sub-caliber cylinderare successively alignabie on rotation of said sub-caliber cylinder; anda sub-caliber barrel insertable in the barrel of the revolver and havinga threaded rear end engageable in said threaded opening in said support,said sub-caliber barrel having an enlargement at its forward endengageable against the muzzle end of the barrel of th-e revolver whensaid sub-caliber barrel is threadedly engaged with said support, saidsub-caliber barrel, rearwardly of said enlargement, being of smallerouter diameter than the minimum interior diameter of the revolver barrelto provide clearance between the rifling in the revolver barrelarld'saigu sub-caliber barrel, and said threaded opening in saidsubcaliber cylinder being located therein to center said rear end `ofsaid sub-caliber barrel within the revolver barrel and said enlargementhaving an inclined rear surface adapted to engage the muzzle end of therevolver barrel and to center therein said forward end of saidsub-caliber barrel to thereby maintain said clearance.

2. The structure deiined in claim 1 wherein the enlargement on thesub-caliber barrel has a concave rear face engageable only with theouter portions of the muzzle of the revolver barrel to center thereinthe muzzle end of said sub-caliber barrel.

3. An assembly for converting a revolver to use sub-- caliber ammunitioncomprising: a sub-caliber cylinder having a barrel support at itsdischarge end, said cylinder and support being adapted to replace thelarger caliber cylinder of the revolver, said sub-caliber cylinderhaving a central aperture adapted to receive the cylinder spindle of therevolver and said support having "a threaded opening with which thechambers in said subcaliber cylinder are successively alignable onrotation of said sub-caliber cylinder; `a sub-caliber barrel insertablein the barrel of the revolver and having a threaded rear end engageablein said threaded opening of said support, said sub-caliber barrel havingan enlargement at its forward end engageable against the muzzle end ofthe barrel of the revolver when said sub-caliber barrel is threadedlyengaged with said support; a recoil plate adapted to replace the recoilplate of :the revolver and having spaced firing pin openings adapted tobe aligned, respectively, with the center and an edge of a chamber insaid sub-caliber cylinder when said chamber is aligned with saidsub-caliber barrel; and a firing pin assembly adapted to replace thetiring pin of the revolver and having a pivotally mounted firing pinmovable between two positions corresponding to said tiring pin openings.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 wherein the ring pin assemblyincludes detent means engageable with the replacement firing pin toyieldingly retain the latter in either of its two positions.

5. An assembly for converting a revolver to use subcaliber ammunitioncomprising: a sub-caliber cylinder having a barrel support at itsdischarge end, said cylinder and support being adapted to replace thelarger caliber cylinder of the revolver with said sub-caliber cylinderhaving a central aperture to receive the cylinder spindle of therevolver and said support having a threaded opening adapted to receivethe threaded rear end of a sub-caliber barrel insertable in the revolverbarrel; a recoil plate adapted to replace the recoil plate of therevolver and having a central tiring pin opening and an oit-centertiring pin opening adapted, respectively, for use with center-tire andrim-tire cartridges; and a firing 'pin assembly adapted to replace thetiring pin of the firing pin for yieldingly retaining the latter ineither of its two positions.

7. The combination, with a revolver having the usual barrel and spindlemeans for supporting therebehind the usual cylinder, of a sub-caliberbarrel arranged in said usual barrel with clearance therebetween, abarrel support and a sub-caliber cylinder taking the place of the usualcylinder and mounted on said spindle means, said support having athreaded aperture alignable in succession with the chambers in saidsub-caliber cylinder, said sub-caliber barrel having a threaded rear endengaged within said threaded support aperture and the latter beinglocated to center said rear end within the rear end of said revolverbarrel to maintain said clearance, and said sub-caliber barrel having anenlargement at its muzzle end provided with an inclined rear surfaceengaged with the muzzle end of said revolver barrel to center thereinsaid muzzle end of said sub-caliber barrel to thereby maintain saidclearance.

8. The structure defined in claim 7 in which the enlargement on themuzzle end of the sub-caliber barrel has a concave rear face engagingonly the outer edge portion of the muzzle of the usual barrel.

9. The combination with a revolver having the usual barrel, means forsupporting therebehind the usual cylinder, and a hammer for carrying theusual firing pin, of a sub-caliber barrel arranged in said usual barrel,a sub-caliber cylinder mounted on said supporting means between saidsub-caliber barrel and said hammer, and a tiring pin assembly carried bysaid hammer in place of the usual firing pin, said assembly including aiiring pin pivoted to move between two positions correspondingrespectively to impact positions necessary to tire center-rire andrim-tire cartridges.

10. The structure defined in claim 9, in which the assembly includesdetent means for yieldably' retaining the firing pin in either of itstwo positions.

11. The structure deiined in claim 9 in which the revolver has means forcarrying the usual recoil plate between the usual cylinder and thehammer and including a replacement recoil plate carried by said means,said latter plate having two tiring pin openings therein correspondingrespectively to the two ring pin positions.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS159,592 Marlin Feb. 8, 1875 172,716 Dimock a Jan. 25, 1876 1,092,763Bourdelles Apr. 7, 1914 1,599,651 Corson Sept. 14, 1926 1,898,566 NoelFeb 21, 1933 2,150,914 Gaidos Mar. 2l, 1939 2,329,273 Kelly Sept. 14,1943 FOREIGN PATENTS 662,545 France Mar. 19, 1929 384,058 Great BritainDec. 1, 1932

